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Kmart issues repetitive answers to Thanksgiving criticism

Kmart isn’t the only retailer planning to open on Thanksgiving night, but it certainly seems to be the dealing with some of the biggest backlash.

Last month, we told you how Macy’s will open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Not to be outdone, Kmart plans to open at 6 a.m. That gives you 41 full hours of Black Friday shopping.

Kmart’s line? It’s planning to staff up with temporary workers who need some extra cash. You can read it repeatedly on the company’s Twitter homepage.

Criticism on Facebook and Twitter has been downright vitriolic, going so far as calling it evil and greedy among other things. Jacob Matthews wrote on the company’s Facebook page, “You put profits before family, work-life balance, and employee morale. Your decision sickens me.”

There are also plenty of threats to boycott on Twitter:

@kmart You should be ashamed of being open on an American holiday. The employees have families too. I will boycott you if you do not close.

We understand many associates want to spend time with their families during the holiday. With this in mind Kmart stores do their very best to staff with seasonal associates and those who are needed to work holidays.

One might wonder where all this social media rage was the last couple of years. CNN Money points out:

Kmart has opened at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving for the past three years. Last year, however, stores closed for a few hours at 4 p.m. to let shoppers and employees get to their Thanksgiving dinners.

What do you think? Does Kmart deserve the thrashing it’s getting over its policy and its canned responses?